Ruby Grannis

Ruby Lee Grannis was born on July 26, 1916 in Oklahoma. She died August 31, 2017. Those who knew Ruby knew that she was very proud of her family history and loved to tell stories about it. Ruby was born to Edward and Lillie Smith. Mr. Smith was a veterinarian and moved the family from Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico finally settling in Monte Vista, Colorado.

In 1932 she married the love of her life, Stanley A. Grannis. They took care of hogs the first year they were married and lived in a converted tractor garage with an outhouse. She referred to those years as “Wonderful, we were just two crazy kids.” They had two sons, Edward Walter and Stanley Lee “Buddy” Grannis. Eventually they moved to Pasadena, CA. Ruby worked for Sears Roebuck and loved this job. In 1969 she and Stan moved back to Colorado and settled in Durango. Stan continued to work for a few years before retiring.

Ruby’s brother, Ben Smith, moved in with them after his wife, Norma had passed away. Ben had suffered a stroke and Ruby and Stan took care of him and enjoyed his company until his death in 2010. Ruby continued to take wonderful care of Ben into her 90s.

At the Grannis house, the coffee was always on friends and neighbors stopped by throughout the day, every day. Over the years, the amount of people stopping by became few because Ruby had outlived most of them.

Names were very confusing in the Grannis family. Besides having a husband Stanley, a brother Stanley Gene, a son Stanley Lee and a grandson, Stanley Lee Grannis, Jr. her brothers both added to the confusion by both marrying girls named Norma. Then there was a son, Edward Walter and grandson, Edward Walter Grannis, Jr.

Ruby enjoyed going to back yard sales. She had a large collection of paperweights and anything else made of glass. If it shinned, Ruby loved it. Ben and Ruby had wonderful neighbors who watched after them through the years. The family is forever grateful to Miriam, Mirna, Kat, Ben, Dorthea, Jack, Ken and Gracie. She couldn’t have asked for better friends and neighbors. Ruby lost both of her sons. Eddie died in 1971 trying to save his step son in a house fire. Stan (Buddy) died in 2000 from side effects of a plutonium spill. Ruby fought and won a battle with cancer soon after Stan’s death. She was always grateful for the companionship of her brother, Ben during these lonely years.

She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Lillie Smith, her brothers Stanley Gene Smith and Benjamin Smith her sons Edward and Stanley Grannis and her grandsons, David Grannis and Stanley Lee Grannis.

She is survived by granddaughter Lillie Startare, grandsons Edward Grant (Pam), Jim Grant (Dinise) and Ron Grannis.

A memorial service will be held at Hood Mortuary on Wednesday September 13, 2017 at 11:00am.